Container spout having its outlet passage sealed by



Aprll 14, 1964 ,SPECKETER 3,128,913

CONTAINER SPOUT H NG ITS OUTLET PASSAGE SEALED BY A WALL OF THECONTAINER Filed NOV- 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Apnl 14, 1964 H.SPECKETER 3,128,913

CONTAINER SPOUT HAVING ITS OUTLET PASSAGE SEALED BY A WALL OF THECONTAINER Filed Nov. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 1964 H.SPECKETER 3,128,913

CONTAINER SPOUT,HAVING ITS OUTLET PASSAGE SEALED BY A WALL OF THECONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1960 United States Patent3,128,913 CONTAINER SPOUT HAVING ITS OUTLET PAS- SAGE SEALED BY A WALLOF THE CONTAINER Hellmut Specketer, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, assignorto Pantaplast G.m.h.H., Eschborn, Taunus, Germany Filed Nov. 29, 1960,Ser. No. 72,433 Claims priority, application Germany Dec. 2, 1959 12Claims. (Cl. 222107) The present invention relates to a containerclosure and more particularly the invention is concerned with containersmade of thermoplastic tubular or sheet material and provided with aspout-like element for dispensing the contents of the flexiblecontainer.

In recent times, the continuous packaging of liquid and paste-likeproducts into thermoplastic tube or foil material has become ofincreasing importance. It is possible in this manner to packageindividual portions so that upon opening of the package the entirecontents of the same are to be removed. However, frequently it isdesired to remove only a portion of the contents from the package andthus the problem arose to provide a closure which could be incorporatedin the package in such a manner as not to interfere with the continuouspackaging process and which closure would permit to remove only aportion of the contents of the package and to safely retain the residualportion within the package, without danger of leakage or contamination.

It has been suggested to attach to the flexible container a closableWithdrawal device such as a spout. However, these suggestions requirethe forming of the package with an opening and closing this opening bysealing the spout or the like to the container portion surrounding theopening. This and other suggestions have not met with full success,particularly due to the frequently required sealing operation, thedifliculty of controlling the adhering of the spout to the alreadyfilled package so that firm adherence of the spout without damage to thecontainer will be accomplished even when the degree of filling of theflexible container and thus the resiliency of the same cannot be fullycontrolled.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome theabove-discussed difliculties as well as other difficulties well-known tothose skilled in this art which are encountered when it is desired toform and fill containers of thermoplastic material with a liquid orpaste like or flowable substance in such a manner that part of thesubstance can be removed and the remainder thereof can be further storedin the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container ofthe type described which can be produced in a simple and economicalmanner and which will permit the withdrawal of any desired portion ofthe contents of the container without interfering with the subsequentstorage of the residual portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a containermade of resilient sheet material, preferably thermoplastic sheet ortubular material and including a spout which is maintained in thedesired position relative to the container without requiring sealing,adhesively adhering or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the further reading of the description and of the appendedclaims.

With the above and other objects in view, the present inventioncontemplates in a container having a container wall, in combination, aflexible container wall portion formed of flexible sheet material, spoutmeans arranged in contact with the flexible container wall portion andhaving a surface portion in contact with one face of the flexiblecontainer wall portion, the spout means formed with a conduit one end ofwhich opens into the interior of the container and the other end ofwhich opens into the surface portion of the spout means which is incontact with the one face of the flexible container wall portion, andholding means holding the spout means within the container with thesurface portion thereof in contact with the one face of the flexiblecontainer wall portion, whereby the holding means are holding the spoutmeans in inoperative condition without any possibility of removal ofsubstance from the container through the spout means without forming anopening through at least a portion of the flexible container wallportion and whereby upon forming an opening through a portion of theflexible container wall portion overlying the other end of the conduitof the spout means the same is adapted for removal of substance from thecontainer.

Thus, the present invention solves the problem of combining a containerformed of thermoplastic tubular or sheet material with a spout, withoutrequiring any welding, sealing or adhesively adhering of spout andflexible container. The package or container according to the presentinvention includes the spout and is eminently suitable for the packagingof liquid or paste-like substances in a continuous manner.

The present invention achieves this result by surrounding one end of aspout with wall portions of the flexible container in a bag-like mannerand by then arranging a holding means, for instance a thread which willhold the bag-forming container portion and the spout portion insertedtherein firmly connected to each other. This mannet of connecting thecontainer wall to the spout is possible due to the fact that the sheetmaterial of which the container is formed, preferably a thermoplasticfoil, is flexible and to some extent expansible so that it is possibleto form the bag-like portion in which a part of the spout is inserted.The holding together of the spout and the surrounding portion of theflexible container wall may be accomplished by means of a metal ring ora metal clamp. However, it is also possible to use a ring or a collarhaving an opening corresponding to the crosssection of the spout at thepoint at which spout and container Wall are to be connected (allowingfor the thickness of the container wall sheet), and consisting ofanother material for instance of a heat hardenable synthetic resin or anelastomeric or plastomeric material. The spout may be made of metal orpreferably of a hard synthetic resin or hard rubber. Due to thedifference in the resiliency of the spout material and of thewall-forming thermoplastic sheet, it is possible to form a tight connection at the point of contact between the spout and the container wallon the one hand and the container wall and the holding means such as aheat hardened synthetic resin ring on the other hand, whereby, ofcourse, the tight seal between the spout and the container wall is ofprimary importance.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof,-will be best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 illustrate in schematic elevational viewvarious embodiments of the container according to the present invention;and

FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 are cross-sectional views of the spout andthe adjacent container area drawn on a larger scale than the firstdescribed figures.

According to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10, the free end of conduit 3is in the interior of container 1, while according to FIGS. 7, 8, 11 and12 the free end of conduit 3 extends outwardly of container 1.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the spout 2 is illustrated as being of pear-shapedconfiguration having a flat outer end, and holding means 4 are arrangedadjacent a portion of spout 2 from which the spout flares outwardly inoutward direction relative to the container. Thus, holding means 4 willbe prevented by the outwardly flaring portion of spout 2 from losingtheir grip and moving outwardly thus releasing the spout. According toFIGS. 3 and 4, the portion at which the spout and the container wall areheld against each other is groove-shaped and thus will preventdislocation of the holding means 4.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a spout which in the area thereof which is incontact with the container wall is of primarily trapezoidalcross-section and which, in addition, is formed with a groove located ina plane perpendicular to conduit 3 and adapted to receive not only aportion of the resilient container wall but also the inner portion ofholding means or ring 4.

FIGS. 7 and 8 correspond to some extent to FIGS. 3 and 4, however, thespout is now arranged in such a manner that the free end of conduit 3extends outwardly of the container. This arrangement will facilitate theclosing of the outer end of conduit 3 with a cap, screw, plug or thelike.

In all cases, the container will remain hermetically sealed until theportion of container wall 1 which covers one end of conduit 3 will beremoved or pierced or an opening will have been formed therethrough.Thereafter, all or part of the contents of the container can be removedthrough conduit 3 of spout 2. When the desired quantity has beenremoved, the residual quantity of the contents of the container will beretained therein until the container is again brought into a position inwhich the residual contents will flow out of conduit 3. Or, it is alsopossible to close the open outer end of conduit 3 Which may have been afree end initially as illustrated in FIG. 8 or which may have become afree end by the piercing of the covering portion of container wall 1,with a suitable closure device such as a cap, screw or plug.

According to FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the spout comprises an upperportion and a. base portion and the axes of the upper and base portionare arranged under an acute angle relative to each other. Between theupper and the base portion of the spout is a connecting portion ofreduced cross-sectional dimensions. According to FIGS. 9 and 10, thecontainer wall surrounds the outer portion of the spout and is held byholding means 4 in the intermediate portion of reduced cross-section,while according to FIGS. 11 and 12 the container wall surrounds the baseportion of the spout and is again held in contact with the spout byholding means 4 and arranged adjacent to the intermediate portion of thespout which is of reduced cross-sectional dimensions.

Furthermore, the spout according to FIGS. 9-l2 is arranged close to anedge of the envelope-like container, while according to FIGS. 1-8, thespout is arranged equidistant from two opposite edges of the container.In other words, the spout may be arranged in the center or closer to theedge of one end face of the container. Particularly, when-as illustratedin FIGS. 9-12the spout is arranged laterally displaced and close to theside wall of container 1, it is frequently desirable to have conduit 3extend as illustrated in FIGS. 912, i.e. under an acute angle to theaxis of container 1, and extending in the direction of the nearestlateral edge of the container. Particularly, when the container isshaped as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, i.e. with outwardly pointingedge portions, the last described arrangement permits a squeezing out ofsubstantially all of the contents of the container.

lAS illustrated in the drawing, it is advisable to arrange the holdingmeans, ring, collar, thread or the like adjacent an area of the spoutwhich is of reduced cross-section as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 8, and 12according to which the area of reduced cross-section is intermediateareas of larger cross-section, or, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding meansmay be arranged adjacent an area of the spout from which the sheetcovered spout surface extends outwardly, so that the holding means aremaintained in position on the one hand by the outwardly flaring portionof the spout, and on the other hand by the resilient pressure of theunderlying container wall portion.

In either case, the described configuration of the spout serves forsecuring the holding means and thereby securing the bag-shaped containerwall portion to the spout.

The free end of conduit 3 may extend outwardly as illustrated in FIGS. 8and 12, or may extend inwardly into the container as illustrated inFIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 10. For purposes of continuous production, this isnecessary when the tubular thermoplastic sheet material is to beprocessed into filled containers, whether the arrangement of FIGS. 2, 4,6 and 10 or the arrangement of FIGS. 8 and 10 is to be produced.However, when the container is to be produced from flat sheet material,the spout can be placed on the sheet material while the same passesthrough the production line, either in such a position that theembodiment of FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 10 will be produced, or so as to producethe embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 12. In both cases, the spouts will bearranged on the sheet material at the desired distance from each otherso that each container will be provided with one spout.

The thus produced soft package is hermetically closed due to the factthat the spout is arranged in the bag-like protuberance of the containerwall. The container is then opened by perforating the thermoplasticsheet material which covers one end of conduit 3. If the free end ofconduit 3 of the closed package extends outwardly, it will be necessaryfor perforation of the container wall to insert a suitably pointedmember into and through conduit 3 so as to pierce the container wallcovering the inner end of conduit 3. The cross-sectional dimension ofconduit 3 will depend on the type of material which is to be packed inthe container in such a manner that the contents of the container can besuitably emptied by applying pressure against the container walls andthereby squeezing the contents through conduit 3. Thus, highly viscouscontents will require a greater cross-sectional area of conduit 3 thanthin liquids.

In certain cases, it will be desirable to provide the filled and closedcontainer with a special closure member for conduit 3. Such closuremember will not be required in all cases, for instance not when thecontents of the container are of high viscosity or paste-likeconsistency so that there is little danger of having the contents of thecontainer flow out through opened conduit 3. It is a particularadvantage of the spout arrangement according to the present inventionthat the soft container walls need not be damaged or torn to anexcessive extent when opening the container. Furthermore, the spoutparticularly as illustrated in FIGS. 9l2 will also serve to determinethe direction of flow of the contents of the container.

When it is desired to provide a closure member, the same mayconveniently be formed as a cap or a plug with or without a threadedcontact surface. The cap, preferably will be clamped onto the spout,While the plug will be at least partially inserted into the outer endportion of conduit 3. A plug-type closure member can be formed with apointed end portion which will serve for piercing the container wallcovering the outer end of conduit 3.

It can be readily seen that the bag-like extension of the container wallwill protrude outwardly in such cases where the free end of conduit 3 islocated inside the container, while in cases where the free end ofconduit 3 is located outside of the container, for instance according toFIG. 12, the bag-like portion of the container wall extends inwardly ofthe container.

In arrangements wherein the free end of conduit 3 is inside thecontainer, it is possible to use the holding means 4 which then forinstance may be formed by a thread or a band, simultaneously as holdingmeans for a label, a flag or the like, or for holding a handle-typeelement. When a band or the like is used for forming holding means 4,then a portion of the band might extend outwardly for instance forming aloop and thus serving as a handle for the package. Obviously, theholding means may be imprinted or in other ways provided with indicia orcharacteristic color combinations.

In either case, i.e. whether the free end of conduit 3 extends inwardlyor outwardly of the container, the inner end of conduit 3 need not belocated in the axis of spout 2.

In order to prevent disengagement of spout and container wall,particularly after an opening has been formed through the portion of theflexible container wall which overlies one end of the conduit, it hasbeen found advantageous to provide the portion of the spout surfacewhich is covered by and in contact with a portion of the flexiblecontainer wall, with a roughened surface or a somewhat ribbed, serratedor knurled surface in order to prevent sliding disengagement betweenspout and container wall.

For the same purpose, it may also be provided that the holding means,particularly when the same consists of hard plastic material, are weldedto the container Wall.

It is of course within the scope of the present invention to provide aroughened spout surface and to weld the holding means to the containerwall, or to provide only one or none of these two features.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofcontainers differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in acontainer made of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, it is notintended to be limited to the details shown, since various modificationsand structural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the \foregoing will so fully reveal the gistof the present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteri-stics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; elongatedspout means arranged within said container inside of said flexiblecontainer wall portion and having a surface portion in contact with theinner face of said flexible container wall portion, said spout meansformed with an elongated conduit one end of which opens into theinterior of said container and the other end of which opens into saidsurface portion. of said spout means which is in contact with the innerface of said flexible container wall portionv said elongated spout meansincluding a portion ofsmaller transverse dimensions interposed betweenend portions of greater transverse dimensions; and holding meanssurrounding and situated between the ends of said elongated spout meansin the area of saidportion of smaller transverse dimensions thereof andengaging said flexible container wall portion, with a portion of saidflexible container wall portion and of said spout means extendingoutwardly in contact with each other for holding said spout means withinsaid container with said surface portion thereof in contact with saidinner face of said flexible container wall portion, whereby said holdingmeans are holding said spout means in inoperative condition without anypossibility of removal of substance from said container through saidspout means without removal of at least a portion of said flexiblecontainer wall portion and whereby upon removal of a portion of saidflexible container wall portion overlying the other end of said conduitof said spout means the same is adapted for removal of substance fromsaid container.

2. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid, elongated spout means arranged within said container inside ofsaid flexible container wall portion and having a surface portion incontact with the inner face of said flexible container wall portion,said spout means formed with an elongated conduit one end of which opensinto the interior of said container and the other end of which opensinto said surface portion of said spout means which is in contact withthe inner face of said flexible container wall portion said spout meansincluding portions of different transverse dimensions with a portion ofgreater transverse dimension closer to the other end of said conduit anda portion of smaller transverse dimension farther distant from saidother end of said conduit; and holding means surrounding and situatedbetween the ends of said elongated spout means and engaging the outerface of said flexible container wall portion adjacent to said portion ofsmaller transverse dimension of said spout means, with a portion of saidflexible container wall portion and of said spout means extendingoutwardly in contact with each other for holding said spout means withinsaid container with said surface portion thereof in contact with saidinner face of said flexible container wall portion, whereby said holdingmeans are holding said spout means in inoperative condition Without anypossibility of removal of substance from said container through saidspout means without removal of at least a portion of said flexiblecontainer wall portion and whereby upon forming an opening through aportion of said flexible container wall portion overlying the other endof said conduit of said spout means the same is adapted for removal ofsubstance from said container.

3. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid, elongated spout means arranged within said container inside ofsaid flexible container wall portion and having a surface Portion incontact with the inner face of said flexible container wall portion saidsurface portion including an annular groove, said spout means formedwith an elongated conduit one end of which opens into the interior ofsaid container and the other end of which opens into said surfaceportion of said spout means which is in contact with the inner face ofsaid flexible container wall portion; and holding means surrounding andsituated between the ends of said elongated spout means and engaging theouter face of said flexible container wall portion opposite said'annular groove, with a portion of said flexible container wall portionand of said spout means extending outwardly in contact with each otherfor holding said spout means within said container with said surfaceportion thereof incontact with said inner face of said flexiblecontainer wall portion, whereby said holding means are holding saidspout means in inoperative condition without any possibility of removalof substance from said container through said spout means withoutforming an opening through at least a portion of said flexible containerwall portion and whereby upon. forming an opening through a portion ofsaid flexible container Wall portion overlying the other end of saidconduit of said spout means the same is adapted for removal of substancefrom said container.

4. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid, elongated spout means arranged within said container inside ofsaid flexible container wall portion and having an outwardly flaringsurface portion in contact with the inner face of said flexiblecontainer wall portion, said spout means formed with an elongatedconduit one end of which opens into the interior of said container andthe other end of which opens into said surface portion of said spoutmeans which is in contact with the inner face of said flexible containerwall portion; and annular holding means surrounding and situated betweenthe ends of said elongated spout means and engaging said flexiblecontainer wall portion, with a portion of said flexible container wallportion and of said spout means extending outwardly in contact with eachother for holding said spout means within said container with saidoutwardly flaring surface portion thereof in contact with said innerface of said flexible container wall portion, whereby said holding meansare holding said spout means in inoperative condition without anypossibility of removal of substance from said container through saidspout means without forming an opening through at least a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion and whereby upon forming an openingthrough a portion of said flexible container wall portion overlying theother end of said conduit of said spout means the same is adapted forremoval of substance from said container.

5. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid, elongated spout means arranged within said container inside ofsaid flexible container wall portion and having a surface portion incontact with the inner face of said flexible container wall portion,said spout means formed with an elongated conduit one end of which opensinto the interior of said container and the other end of which opensinto said surface portion of said spout means which is in contact withthe inner face of said flexible container wall portion, said spout meansincluding portions of different transverse dimensions with a portion ofgreater transverse dimension closer to the other end of said conduit anda portion of smaller transverse dimension farther distant from saidother end of said conduit; and ring-shaped, flexible holding meanssurrounding and situated between the ends of said elongated spout meansand engaging said flexible container wall portion, with a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion and of said spout means extendingoutwardly in contact with each other for holding said spout means withinsaid container with said surface portion thereof in contact with saidinner face of said flexible container wall portion, whereby said holdingmeans are holding said spout means in inoperative condition without anypossibility of removal of substance from said container through saidspout means without forming an opening through at least a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion and whereby upon forming an openingthrough a portion of said flexible container wall portion overlying theother end of said conduit of said spout means the same is adapted forremoval of substance from said container.

6. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; spout meansarranged outside said flexible container wall portion and having asurface portion in contact with the outer face of said flexiblecontainer wall portion, said spout means formed with a conduit havingone free end and the other end of which opens into said surface portionof said spout means which is in contact with the outer face of saidflexible container wall portion; and holding means separate from saidspout means and contacting the inner face of said flexible containerwall portion for holding said spout means in contact with said containerwith said surface portion of said spout means in contact with said outerface of said flexible container wall portion, whereby said holding meansare holding said spout means in inoperative condition without anypossibility of removal of substance from said container through saidspout means without removal of at least a portion of said flexiblecontainer wall portion and whereby upon removal of a portion of saidflexible container wall portion overlying the other end of said conduitof said spout means the same is adapted for removal of substance fromsaid container.

7. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid spout means arranged outside of said flexible container wallportion and having a surface portion in contact with the outer face ofsaid flexible container wall portion, said spout means formed with aconduit having one free end and the other end of which opens into saidsurface portion of said spout means which is in contact with the outerface of said flexible container wall portion, said spout means includingportions of different transverse dimensions with a portion of smallertransverse dimension interposed between portions of greater transversaldimensions; and holding means contacting the inner face of said flexiblecontainer wall portion adjacent to said portion of smaller transversedimension of said spout means for holding said spout means in contactwith said container with said surface portion thereof in contact withsaid outer face of said flexible container wall portion, whereby saidholding means are holding said spout means in inoperative conditionwithout any possibility of removal of substance from said containerthrough said spout means without forming an opening through a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion overlying the other end of saidconduit of said spout means, and whereby upon forming an opening througha portion of said flexible container wall portion overlying the otherend of said conduit of said spout means the same is adapted for removalof substance from said container.

8. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid spout means arranged outside of said flexible container wallportion and having a surface portion in contact with the outer face ofsaid flexible container wall portion, said spout means formed with aconduit having one free end and the other end of which opens into saidsurface portion of said spout means which is in contact with the outerface of said flexible container wall portion, said spout means includingportions of different transverse dimensions with a portion of smallertransverse dimension interposed between portions of greater transversaldimensions; holding means contacting the inner face of said flexiblecontainer wall portion adjacent to said portion of smaller transversedimension of said spout means for holding said spout means in contactwith said container with said surface portion thereof in contact withsaid outer face of said flexible container wall portion; and closingmeans for removably closing said free end of said conduit, whereby saidholding means are holding said spout means in inoperative conditionwithout any possibility of removal of substance from said containerthrough said spout means without removal of said closing means andforming an opening through at least a portion of said flexible containerwall portion and whereby upon forming an opening through a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion overlying the other end of saidconduit of said spout means the same is adapted for removal of substancefrom said container.

9. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid spout means arranged outside of said flexible container wallportion and having a surface portion in contact with the outer face ofsaid flexible container wall portion, said spout means formed with aconduit having one free end and the other end of which opens into saidsurface portion of said spout means which is in contact with the outerface of said flexible container wall portion, said spout means includingportions of different transverse dimensions with a groove-shaped portionof smaller transverse dimensions interposed between portions of greatertransversal dimensions; and holding means contacting the inner face ofsaid flexible container wall portion adjacent to said portion of smallertransverse dimension of said spout means for holding said spout means incontact with said container with said surface portion thereof in contactwith said outer face of said flexible container wall portion, wherebysaid holding means are holding said spout means in inoperative conditionwithout any possibility of removal of substance from said containerthrough said spout means without forming an opening through a portion ofsaid flexible container wall portion overlying the other end of saidconduit of said spout means, and whereby upon forming an opening througha portion of said flexible container wall portion overlying the otherend of said conduit of said spout means the same is adapted for removalof substance from said container.

10. In a container having a container wall, in combination, a flexiblecontainer wall portion formed of flexible sheet material; substantiallyrigid, elongated spout means arranged within said container inside ofsaid flexible container wall portion and having a surface portion incontact with the inner face of said flexible container wall portion,said spout means formed with an elongated conduit one end of which opensinto the interior of said container and the other end of which opensinto said surface portion of said spout means which is in contact 30with the inner face of said flexible container wall portion, saidsubstantially rigid, elongated spout means including a portion ofsmaller transverse dimensions interposed between end portions of greatertransverse dimensions; and thermoplastic holding means integral withsaid flexible container wall portion surrounding and situated betweenthe ends of said elongated spout means in the area of said portion ofsmaller transverse dimensions and engaging said flexible container wallportion with a portion of said flexible container wall portion and ofsaid spout means extending outwardly in contact with each other forholding said spout means within said container with said surface portionthereof in contact with said inner face of said flexible container wallportion, whereby said holding means are holding said spout means ininoperative condition without any possibility of removal of substancefrom said container through said spout means Without removal of at leasta portion of said flexible container wall portion and whereby uponforming an opening through a portion of said flexible container wallportion overlying the other end of said conduit of said spout means thesame is adapted for removal of substance from said container.

11. A container as defined in claim 7, wherein the surface portion ofsaid spout means which is in contact with the outer face of saidflexible container Wall portion includes roughened portions to preventsliding disengagement of said spout surface and said container wallportions.

12. A container as defined in claim 7, wherein said holding means arewelded to said outer face of said flexible container wall portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,124,495 Mahn Jan. 12, 1915 1,287,935 Fegley Dec. 17, 1918 2,202,652Glidden May 28, 1940 2,349,962 Harris May 30, 1944 2,525,360 Lage Oct.10, 1950 2,628,911 Horan Feb. 17, 1953 2,628,912 Horan Feb. 17, 19532,696,342 Toborg Dec. 7, 1954 2,780,396 Larrabee Feb. 5, 1957 2,812,764Crisp NOV. 12, 1957 2,844,290 Slade July 22, 1958 2,939,598 DonleavyJune 7, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,271 France July 27, 1920 708,850 GreatBritain May 12, 1954

1. IN A CONTAINER HAVING A CONTAINER WALL, IN COMBINATION, A FLEXIBLECONTAINER WALL PORTION FORMED OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL; ELONGATEDSPOUT MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER INSIDE OF SAID FLEXIBLECONTAINER WALL PORTION AND HAVING A SURFACE PORTION IN CONTACT WITH THEINNER FACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION, SAID SPOUT MEANSFORMED WITH AN ELONGATED CONDUIT ONE END OF WHICH OPENS INTO THEINTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER AND THE OTHER END OF WHICH OPENS INTO SAIDSURFACE PORTION OF SAID SPOUT MEANS WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH THE INNERFACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION SAID ELONGATED SPOUT MEANSINCLUDING A PORTION OF SMALLER TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS INTERPOSED BETWEENEND PORTIONS OF GREATER TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS; AND HOLDING MEANSSURROUNDING AND SITUATED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED SPOUT MEANSIN THE AREA OF SAID PORTION OF SMALLER TRANSVERSE DIMENSIONS THEREOF ANDENGAGING SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION, WITH A PORTION OF SAIDFLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION AND OF SAID SPOUT MEANS EXTENDINGOUTWARDLY IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER FOR HOLDING SAID SPOUT MEANS WITHINSAID CONTAINER WITH SAID SURFACE PORTION THEREOF IN CONTACT WITH SAIDINNER FACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION, WHEREBY SAID HOLDINGMEANS ARE HOLDING SAID SPOUT MEANS IN INOPERATIVE CONDITION WITHOUT ANYPOSSIBILITY OF REMOVAL OF SUBSTANCE FROM SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAIDSPOUT MEANS WITHOUT REMOVAL OF AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLECONTAINER WALL PORTION AND WHEREBY UPON REMOVAL OF A PORTION OF SAIDFLEXIBLE CONTAINER WALL PORTION OVERLYING THE OTHER END OF SAID CONDUITOF SAID SPOUT MEANS THE SAME IS ADAPTED FOR REMOVAL OF SUBSTANCE FROMSAID CONTAINER.